He was also disqualified from driving for four months after he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Pedestrian Mr Booth suffered fractures to his leg, needed a skin graft and was unable to walk unaided in the aftermath.

He was a ski instructor, but now fears he will never hit the slopes again. He told the court in a statement: "I've been having nightmares and flashbacks of being trapped by a taxi."

Wei Lu suffered a heart injury – a torn aorta – pelvic, rib, and facial fractures, plus scarring and a punctured lung. She is still in pain, suffering from a bleed on the brain, ` clot next to her kidney that may require surgery, and her balance and mobility were badly affected.

She met her son for the first time when she came round after three days and is still feeling the psychological impact.

Wei said in a statement: "I have still not bonded with my son. There seems to be no connection. It's like you can take him away and there will be no bond broken, which is very upsetting."

Mr Recorder Biddle rejecting Iqbal's pleas for a suspended sentence. He said while his driving was not the worst of its type, the consequences were horrific.

Lawyer Joanne Berry, who is representing Wei Liu in a civil action for compensation, said: "We are glad the offence has been treated with the seriousness it deserved and that a custodial sentence has been handed down.

"Hopefully we will now be able to help Wei to move on with her rehabilitation treatment and her life.

"It is disappointing that despite Wei being an innocent passenger, the insurers have not yet agreed to fund the rehabilitation that has been recommended for her and we are currently striving to rectify this situation for her."